Read a full report of the Aviva Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and
Wasps at Welford Road on Saturday, April 12, 2014.

Manu Tuilagi produced the kind of explosive, match-winning performance which will make Stuart Lancaster hope that Leicester Tigers centre emerges unscathed from his club’s push for the Aviva Premiership title.

For if there is a man the England head coach will need walking out to face world champions New Zealand in Auckland in the opening Test on June 7, it is a fairly fresh, fit and firing Tuilagi.

The 22-year-old’s influence on Leicester’s attempt to be crowned English champions again is clear. And his all-round attacking and defensive performance in the bonus-point win proved that the centre is finishing the campaign full of vitality.

“I’m feeling very good,” Tuilagi said. “I had that long lay-off with injury which has left me hungry to play games. I don’t want to think about England because Tigers have some important games coming up. It was just nice to get a couple of tries to help us win and keep in the play-off mix.”

Leicester consolidated their hold on third place in the table but were made to work hard for their win.

Former Tiger Andy Goode struck the first blow with an early penalty. But Tuilagi soon had an impact on a match that the hosts were expected to win with ease.

His first try followed a rolling maul that pushed Wasps back towards their line. Ben Youngs picked up and fed Tuilagi, who had built up a head of steam as he left the attempted tacklers grasping at air.

Wasps struck back when Blaine Scully’s missed tackle allowed flanker Guy Thompson to stroll over the home side’s line.

Leicester regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when wing Vereniki Goneva managed to get the ball down in the corner inches before his trailing foot went into touch.

Ten minutes into the second half, Tuilagi inflicted more damage on the tiring Wasps defence. Once he was handed the ball 15 yards out, it was all too easy as he darted over for his second try. It was another clear sign that, while some players are beginning to fade approaching the end of a long season, Tuilagi is shifting into top gear.

Geoff Parling, the England lock, came on his first taste of action since suffering a shoulder injury in mid-October.

Wasps sparked a few nervous moments among the Welford Road faithful nine minutes from time when full-back Tom Bell raced on to replacement Elliot Daly’s finely judged kick to touch the ball down.

Replacement scrum-half David Mélé had the final say, earning the bonus point for Tigers as he dived to the ground with ball in hand after another rolling maul had pushed Wasps back over their line.

Richard Cockerill, Leicester’s director of rugby, said: “We are in a good position but nothing is certain. We have a fair gap between ourselves and the likes of Quins but we still need to keep up the level of performance.”

Dai Young, Cockerill’s counterpart at Wasps, said: “We began brightly and matched them. But you have to maintain your work rate and pressure.”